Trip to Mozambique

Just before the winter holidays we went to Mozambique on a joint missions visit and holiday.  We did not want to drive through to Bilene in one day and decided to stay over at Petra College near White River in Mpumalanga.  We previously lived there - 2007 / 8. 

Legogote (Lion), situated partly on Petra College’s land is a well known landmark in the area and can be seen from afar.  At the foot of the Mountain was a shop that was used by transport riders during the end of the 19th century.  I always told Simeon we lived on the lion’s tail.

Friends at Petra College – Magriet en Dietmar.

Lucy and Tshepo (Simeon's friend)

The best part was visiting with our friends and catching up on each other's lives.

Joshua asleep with his dog and little Piglet (that I lost on the Bilene beach – I feel so bad about that).

“There’s a full moon over Mozambique tonight”  A haunting song. Full moon at Bilene and beautiful.

Simeon just fell down and made sand angels.  I love his spontaneity, and the way he can see an opportunity (even if there is no snow).

The view from our stoep of “our” house.

 Progress comes to Xai-Xai and the children could enjoy a Kentucky ice cream.

What I like about our visits is that we see the progress taking place in Mozambique.  There are Shoprite shops in most of the larger towns now and you can even pay in Rands.

The church we have been involved with since 1999.

Pastor and Mama Macome.  They just keep on going and the church grows.  In January / February 2012 a cross will be planted there.

Any time is play time, especially when your parents visit a place where a large part of the garden is just sand.

Cashew nut ‘trees’.  The best ever.

Simeon on the beach at Praia de Xai-Xai (pronounced "chai-chai").

My cappuccino at a beach hotel in Praia de Xai-Xai (the cheapest lunch we ever had as family, especially with the Rand – Metical exchange rate)

Praia de Bilene.  Simeon and Joshua enjoying the cold water at the lake.  It is much bigger than before the 2001 and 2002 floods and is drained to the see yearly to maintain the waterlevels.

Planting rocks, pears and potato – hoping they will be reaping before the end of the week.

Playing in the biggest sand box, right in front of our house.

Joshua having fun.

A ship leaving Maputo harbor.

On Friday we went back to Petra Collge.  The road back home was TOO long for two small active boys (and their  parents!)  Friday afternoon traffic in Maputo and  road works did not help.  Night fell when we entered South Africa.  We had problems with our vehicle; the radiator van belt broke 10 km before Malelane.  We thank God it did not happen inside Mozambique near some small village.  We were helped promptly in Malelane by a mechanic on stand-by just for such incidents on the N4.

Old Joe

Between Nelspruit and Waterval Boven, on the Schoemanskloof road, is this rock.  When the road was built the workers found this rock and decided it looked just like their supervisor – Old Joe.  It became a beacon on the road.  Now it’s painted regularly - sometimes to depict events in the area.

The Millys we stopped at didn't look the same as a week before. They told us a spark from a hearth in the restaurant set the thatch roof alight and burned down the restaurant and two shops during Friday afternoon.

We were glad to be home again and decided against travelling by car that far again (for now that is).

Vakansie by Sondela

Ons het 'n heerlike wegbreek gehad by Sondela. Dit is naby Warmbad. Alhoewel dit bewolk was en soms gereen het het ons dit baie geniet.Die ingang

Ons het in die tentkamp bespreek, maar 'n heerlike verrassing het op ons gewag. Ons is bederf deur Vader God. Ons verblyf is opgegradeer na 'n pragtige chalet, Maroela nr 1 met hierdie bome voor die stoep. Die bome het 'n pagtige prentjie uitgemaak wat inmekaar gepas het. Ons was sommer naby die swembaddens maar ook privaat.


Die njalas het elke dag kom kos vra en Joshua was sommer gou by om hulle kos te gee. Hierdie ooi en haar lam het gesmul aan die ertjies. Ons het baie van ons groente so af gestaan, maar die ervaring vir die kinders was belangriker.


Die koue swembad was BAIE koud en die kinders het eerder in die die jaccuzi geswem. Joshua het geen vrees vir die water nie en ons moet hom maar baie dop hou.

"die dans van die putt-putt baan"

Enige idee van reels by die putt-putt baan moes maar laat vaar word. Ons het hulle maar laat begaan en baie gelag. Eendag sal ons wel weer probeer reels verduidelik.

Uitgevang!!! Die bal word sommer in die gaatjie gegooi.

'n Goeie ervaring vir die stadsjapies was die koeie melk. Simeon wou eers glad nie, maar nadat Joshua probeer het, het hy dit reg gekry.

Simeon wil graag 'n boer word, maar erdwurms staan hom nie aan nie - geen plantery dus nie. Na die koeimelk wou hy ook nie meer koeie he nie. Ons is terug by dit waarvan hy die eerste begin praat het - wildsboer - maar 'n latere blog daaroor.

Die ou trekkers het vir baie pret gesorg. Dis twee regte seuns die.

Pa en seun in 'n lawwe bui.

Mamma en seuns

Selfs by 'n braai is daar geleentheid vir teken.

Simeon het hom verkyk aan die warmbronne by Warmbad. Ons moes telkens terug gaan dat hy nog kon kyk. En hy het aanhou vrae vra.

So ek het maar fotos geneem sodat ons later weer daaroor kan praat.

My grootste teleurstelling was dat Papatso nou heeltemaal afgebreek is. Papatso was 'n curios winkel van my kinderdae. Ons het in my laerskool dae elke wintervakansie een dag vanaf Pretoria na Warmbad toe gegaan om daar te swem. En dan gestop by Papatso, sommer maar net. Seker maar om die lang pad korter te laat voel. Nou is dit heeltemaal weg.

Ek het besluit dat dit soms beter is om nie die ou herinneringe weer op te haal deur 'n besoek nie, maar om dit in die verlede te laat. So behou mens 'n mooi heel beeld van die verlede - 'n tikkie misterie.